Shockingly, the 67-win Mavs came out and were baffled by the high-energy Warriors, and lost the series decisively in six games.

Dirk's numbers for the series: 19.7 points, 11.3 rebounds per game.

After that series ended, Nowitzki was awkwardly named the NBA's MVP, after having been jettisoned from the playoffs in embarrassing fashion.

This entire series of events was so terrible for Nowitzki that he went on a backpacking excursion through Australia for several weeks just after the season ended, in an effort to help him get away from basketball and everything that had recently transpired.

During the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Nowitzki went out and put up the same old stellar Nowitzki numbers, but because Dallas had taken a step back, nobody really noticed.

Dirk's credibility had taken a massive hit because of the Golden State series, and he had gained the reputation as a guy that can't lead and carry a team by himself.

Because of his team's feeble exit from the playoffs that year, Nowitzki's MVP award seems hollow, as if that entire Mavericks season had never even happened.

This season, the 31-year-old Nowitzki has been better than ever, yet he's never mentioned in the same breath as guys like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, or Dwyane Wade.

However, maybe this is all for the better.

Nowitzki has never been one for the glitz and glamour, and I'm sure he's just fine flying with his team under the national radar.

So far this season, the Mavericks sit at 9-3, atop the Southwest Division.